CHOCOLAT

US, 2000, 121 minutes, Colour.
Juliet Binoche, Alfred Molina, Judi Dench, Lena Olin, Johnny Depp, Carrie Anne Moss, John Wood, Leslie Caron, Victoire Thivisol, Hugh O' Conor, Peter Stormare.
Directed by Lasse Hellstrom.

On Ash Wednesday, 1959, in the tranquil French village of Lansquenet, Count Paul, the mayor, supervises his villagers coming to Church. He checks the homily preached by the newly-appointed and very young parish priest. The sedate village values its virtue of 'tranquillity'.

At the same time, a mysterious north wind blows. It signals the arrival of a mysterious woman, Vianne, and her daughter, Anouk, who have come to open a chocolaterie. The mayor, who has devoted his Lent to fasting and the promotion of moral rectitude, confronts Vianne and tries to turn the village against her.

Vianne provides wonderful chocolates, tempting the villagers who cautiously come to her shop and find their lives changed. Amongst these are Armande, who leases the shope to Vianne. Armande is a strong-minded woman whose straight-laced daughter forbids her son to see his grandmother. Another is Josephine, often battered by her husband, Serge, who takes refuge in the shop and works with Vianne.

A band of river people arrive at Lansquenet. They are resented by the village and the mayor instigates a campaign against them as moral outcasts. However, Vianne and her daughter welcome them, especially their leader, Roux, who is attracted to Vianne. Serge, taking the mayor's condemnation too literally, sets fire to the boats after a celebration. Josephine and Anouk escape the fire.

Vianne throws a party for Armande's 70th birthday - Armande returns home where she quietly dies. As Easter Sunday approaches, the mayor is desperate and goes to the shop to destroy the chocolates. Instead he wallows in them. Shamefaced, he realises and admits his narrow outlook on life. The priest preaches on the love of Jesus. The villagers are transformed into a more tolerant community and Vianne decides to stay there. Roux returns.

Chocolat is not meant to be taken as a realistic drama. A number of critics, judging it along these criteria, have dismissed it as implausible and sentimental. However, the movie touched popular audiences. The American Academy nominated the movie for a Best Picture Oscar, the luminous Juliet Binoche for Best Actress and Judi Dench for Best Supporting Actress. The rest of the cast includes Alfred Molina as the Count, Johnny Depp as the gypsy, Roux, Lena Olin as Jospehine and Carrie Anne Moss as the repressed daughter of Judi Dench.

The movie was directed by Swede Lasse Hallstrom. His movies are marked by a strong sense of humanity and compassion: My Life as a Dog, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Cider House Rules, The shipping News.

Whether British novelist Joanne Harris would see her story as implausible and sentimental is uncertain. However, the movie can be enjoyed - and seen as a challenge to believers.

1.A satisfying entertainment? The award nominations? Popular?

2.The re-creation of France in 1959, the village, the streets, homes, the shops, the square, the mayor’s office? The church? The musical score?

3.The blend of realism and magic realism? The effect of the chocolate?

4.The title, audience response, response to chocolate, sweet, different tastes? The shop, the customers and the effect, the making of the chocolate, the cacao, unleashing feelings from inside, joy? The issue of Lent, mortification? Indulgence? The chocolate as a symbol?

5.The narrator, the story of Vianne and Anouk, the red hoods, the wind blowing, arriving in the village, the mythologies, the fairytale aspects? Vianne and her arrival, her later telling Anouk the story of her mother, its being visualised, her father, the courtship, the attraction, 1927, the lust and love, the photograph, the mother disappearing, travelling with her daughter, obeying the winds? The arrival of the Travellers at the village, at the river? The end, Anouk spilling the cacao, apologies, trying to collect it? The ends of travel or not?

6.The Lenten setting, the opening on Ash Wednesday, the sermon, the priest and his youthfulness, Count Paul and his supervising the sermons? The opening of the shop, the role of mortification, people giving up chocolate? The people refusing? The count and his critique? The comment on self-indulgence? Armande, her being at home in the shop, not bothering about the church, her strained relationship with her daughter, eating the chocolate during Lent, the party, her death? The build-up to Easter, Count Paul and his self-indulgence, the priest’s sermon, the emphasis on the humanity of Jesus, everybody celebrating in the marketplace?

7.The role of the church, the 1950s, France, strict, the rules, observance, judgmental people, the nature of holiness, sin? People going to confession?

8.Vianne, her arrival, renting the shop from Armande, Armande being crusty? Her diligence in cleaning, the work with Anouk, opening the shop? The range of chocolates? Caroline and Luc, the accident, Caroline’s refusal? Josephine and her stealing the chocolate? Guillaume and his dog, his courting of the widow, the story that her husband had been killed in World War One? Yvette and her husband, his drinking? The sexual aspect? Vianne telling people’s favourite chocolate?

9.Life at the shop, Luc and his visits, establishing a relationship with his grandmother, her portrait? People being at home? Josephine taking refuge, Serge and his brutality? Her staying with Vianne, her happiness, working in the shop? The character of Josephine, subservient, at church, her rebellion against Serge?

10.The count, his absent wife, his diligence and work, Caroline and her administration, her strictness, with her son and fussing, his nose bleeding etc? The infatuation with the count? The discussions between the count and the priest, supervising him, expectations?

11.The priest, young and naïve, condemning the shop, his attitude towards the person of Christ, the influence of the count, hearing the confessions, trying to live up to expectations? The touch of disillusionment, seeing the count after eating the chocolate, his final homily, the compassion of Jesus? Happy?

12.Armande, cynical, diabetes, her friendship with Vianne, the chocolate, spending her time at the shop? Wanting the party, the celebration? Her death – and her mother and the count blaming Vianne?

13.The arrival of the Travellers, the notices in the town, Vianne going out to meet them, the judgmental attitudes, especially of the count? Armande and her reaction?

14.The celebrations, Serge and his being upset, setting fire? Running away? Vianne and Roux together, the bond, fixing the window? The night together, the fire, the search for Anouk, Josephine saving her? Vianne’s relief?

15.Serve, his confessing to the count, the count exiling him?

16.The count, Armande’s death, Caroline and her attentions? The truth about his wife? His vengeful attitudes towards Vianne, his attacking the shop, tasting the chocolate on his lips, gorging himself, his illness and collapse? The priest seeing him? Vianne helping him – and reminding him that it was Easter?

17.Vianne, the decision to move, Anouk’s unwillingness? The kangaroo and its healing? The fight, the spilling of the cacao? Making the village happy – Vianne’s mission in life?

18.The sermon, the true expression of Christianity, Jesus’ humanity, joy? The consequent happiness for the celebration of Easter in the square?